Ginger & Sea Sickness
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GearHead
Contributor
Ginger Candy, which you can find in some grocery stores, and just about all Asian supermarkets is a good way to gradually ingest ginger for anti-seasickness purposes. It's essentially the crystallized form of ginger and not very different from the "Crystallized Ginger" or "Candied Ginger" that you can usually find in the spice aisle at the grocery store.
My wife is a strong believer in the Relief Band, and I'd recommend that also, though the price is steep. Of course, if you're over the rail of a boat, you probably don't care how much it costs to feel better.
Rick
My wife is a strong believer in the Relief Band, and I'd recommend that also, though the price is steep. Of course, if you're over the rail of a boat, you probably don't care how much it costs to feel better.
Rick
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Good suggestion on the ginger candy as long as it contains real ginger & you can estimate how much you need to eat in order to get a therapeutic level.
As for "Relief Bands http://www.woodsidebiomedical.com/ ," if one wants to go this route I'd recommend first experimenting with the simpler & vastly cheaper "Acu-Strap http://www.visionsdirecthhs.com/acmotsicrelb.html " or Sea-Band http://www.sea-band.com/The Sea Band/seabandmain.htm " The principle is essentially the same.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
As for "Relief Bands http://www.woodsidebiomedical.com/ ," if one wants to go this route I'd recommend first experimenting with the simpler & vastly cheaper "Acu-Strap http://www.visionsdirecthhs.com/acmotsicrelb.html " or Sea-Band http://www.sea-band.com/The Sea Band/seabandmain.htm " The principle is essentially the same.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
DivePartner1
Contributor
A word on warning on Dramamine.
It's always worked for me as a sailor, but the one and only time I ever fell asleep at the wheel in a car was during a morning drive home after a dive trip called for weather. But for the cancellation, I would've been that sleepy during the dive. I now take it as a certain cure for insomnia.
Thanks, Doc, for the alternatives to Dramamine.
It's always worked for me as a sailor, but the one and only time I ever fell asleep at the wheel in a car was during a morning drive home after a dive trip called for weather. But for the cancellation, I would've been that sleepy during the dive. I now take it as a certain cure for insomnia.
Thanks, Doc, for the alternatives to Dramamine.
Scuba
Contributor
DocVikingo wrote:
I'm glad to see you mention this, DocVikingo, since I had tried taking these medications one hour before activity as their instructions indicate, but it just would'nt work for me. After hearing this advise from other fellow divers, I can happily (that happy face is too small) report that I got my sea legs under me just like an old salt. I am quite sensity to motion sickness in the ocean, not just on a boat, and have had some horrible times on a boat. NO MORE.
A couple more questions, if I may. How long before activity would it be best to take the ginger? How long would its effect last?
Thank you, and anyone else who may want to contribute.
I'm glad to see you mention this, DocVikingo, since I had tried taking these medications one hour before activity as their instructions indicate, but it just would'nt work for me. After hearing this advise from other fellow divers, I can happily
(that happy face is too small) report that I got my sea legs under me just like an old salt. I am quite sensity to motion sickness in the ocean, not just on a boat, and have had some horrible times on a boat. NO MORE.A couple more questions, if I may. How long before activity would it be best to take the ginger? How long would its effect last?
Thank you, and anyone else who may want to contribute.
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1. How long before activity would it be best to take the ginger?
Estimates of this range from several hours to 20 minutes, depending on the source. The matter really hasn't been studied sufficiently to say with any precision.
Truth is, many of the guidelines for the use of ginger in preventing nausea, vomiting & seasickness come from herbal lore.
If it was me, I'd start experimenting with an initial dose of 500 mg 1/2 to 1 hour prior to boarding the boat.
2. How long would its effect last?
Same problem as above, but studies that involved repeated doses used intervals of 4-6 hours.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Estimates of this range from several hours to 20 minutes, depending on the source. The matter really hasn't been studied sufficiently to say with any precision.
Truth is, many of the guidelines for the use of ginger in preventing nausea, vomiting & seasickness come from herbal lore.
If it was me, I'd start experimenting with an initial dose of 500 mg 1/2 to 1 hour prior to boarding the boat.
2. How long would its effect last?
Same problem as above, but studies that involved repeated doses used intervals of 4-6 hours.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
OP
tinman
Contributor
DocV, Genesis et al - Thank-you for the insightful responses. As a committed Puddle Diver (Great Lakes & other such fresh water sites), I was wondering how to prepare for Blue water diving. Sea sickness was high on my want to avoid list. Haven't had trouble with 3-5 ft chop in the Puddles but wanted to be prepared for Atlantic/Pacific diving next year...
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You're entirely welcome.
BTW, if you handle 3-5 footers in the Great Lakes, then you'll handle them in the oceans as well. Unless you're in storm season & hit one, you should not experience anything higher.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
BTW, if you handle 3-5 footers in the Great Lakes, then you'll handle them in the oceans as well. Unless you're in storm season & hit one, you should not experience anything higher.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Me and some of the New England Lobstah Divahs were in FLA this past weekend and had this discussion. I tried the Ginger, Trish tried the non-drowsy formula of Dramamine. I hurled, she didn't. I know it is not very scientific but that's how it happend nonetheless...
raxafarian
Contributor
the seas were flat... you didn't need to take anything. You hurled? I missed that.
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